Keeping your data safe is essential. macOS offers two primary tools to help: Time Machine for creating backups, and iCloud for syncing and accessing files across devices. Below, we’ll cover how to back up your Mac with Time Machine, iCloud, and trusted third-party services.
Time Machine Backup
Time Machine is the most complete way to back up a Mac. It creates automatic, versioned backups to an external drive, which you can use to restore files or migrate to a new Mac with Migration Assistant.
What you’ll need:
- An external storage drive at least twice the size of your Mac’s internal drive.
Quick setup:
Connect a new, empty drive. When prompted, choose Use as Backup Disk. Time Machine will begin backing up automatically.
Manual setup:
- Connect your external drive to your Mac.
- Open System Settings → General → Time Machine.
- Click Add Backup Disk and select your drive.
- Follow the on screen prompts to finish setup.
Once configured, Time Machine performs automatic backups whenever the drive is connected.
💡 Tip: To start a backup immediately, click the Time Machine icon in the menu bar and choose Back Up Now. You’ll get a notification when the backup completes.
iCloud Backup
iCloud keeps your files, photos, contacts, calendars, and more synced across devices. It’s perfect for access and continuity, but it does not create a full, bootable system backup of your Mac.
Set up iCloud:
- Open System Settings.
- Select your Apple ID.
- Click iCloud.
- Toggle on the items you want to sync (e.g., iCloud Drive, Photos, Contacts, Calendars, Notes, Safari).
Your selected data will sync automatically and can be accessed on any device signed into your Apple ID. In Finder, you’ll find your files under iCloud Drive.
Other Cloud Alternatives
If you use multiple devices (including Windows or Android), consider third-party cloud storage. These services work similarly to iCloud but they can used on Windows and Mac:
- Google Drive
- Dropbox
- Microsoft OneDrive
Create an account, install the app, and choose which folders to sync. Your files will then back up to the cloud and be available across devices.
Best Practices
- Two is best: Keep 2 copies of your data (1 on a Time Machine + a Cloud base service)
- Automate: Let you backups run automatically on a schedule to avoid losing data.
